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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Augustine characterize the argument that his teaching is not needed because it comes from a human source?
(a) It is being heretical.
(b) It is intolerant.
(c) It is responsible for allowing "babes in the Faith being devoured by the wolves of the world."
(d) It is being logically inconsistent.

2. What is Augustine's perception of God's dispensation of "special gifts" of interpreting Scripture?
(a) That they follow miraculous events.
(b) That they follow periods of oppression of those seeking His blessings.
(c) Dispensing of such gifts is atypical.
(d) That they precede periods of peace and prosperity.

3. What is the nature of the second important distinction Augustine identifies in Book One?
(a) Everything that is enjoyed is used, but not everything that is used is enjoyed.
(b) Encouragement is an exhortation, but not every exhortation is an encouragement.
(c) Christian love can be found within pagans, but pagan love is antithetical to Christian love.
(d) A sign is always a thing, but not all things are signs.

4. What is the doctrine that Augustine claims critics of human teaching defend?
(a) That God will communicate through the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
(b) That God will communicate through signs and symbols.
(c) That God will communicate the meaning of Scripture through "special gifts."
(d) That God will communicate through tongues.

5. What does Augustine consider to be the ultimate thing to be enjoyed?
(a) The concept of Christian love as practiced in community.
(b) The things that we can develop from our special gifts.
(c) The things that God places in nature for us to use.
(d) The Trinity of Christianity.

6. What is the second important distinction that Augustine makes in Book One?
(a) The distinction between Christian love and pagan love.
(b) The distinction between encouraging and exhortation.
(c) The distinction between things and signs.
(d) The distinction between enjoy and use.

7. What is the main difference between the system of learning that Augustine advocates and that advocated by the critics he focuses on in the Preface?
(a) Augustine's system requires finding a qualified Priest to hand down the official teaching of the Church whereas the critics allow free interpretation.
(b) Augustine's system requires study and application of rules whereas the critics believe they can understand through special gifts.
(c) Augustine's system of learning requires study in Greek philosophy whereas the critics require researching copies of manuscripts.
(d) Augustine's system requires great expense in accessing the necessary documents of learning whereas the critics allow for the interpretation of the spirit through tongues.

8. What is an important distinction that Augustine teaches students to understand through three Books of "On Christian Doctrine?
(a) The difference between sins of omission and original sin.
(b) The difference between "special gifts" and talents.
(c) The difference between original sin and human nature.
(d) The difference between "things" and "signs."

9. Of these influences on personal thought, which does Augustine claim Scripture teaches can lead a Christian to positive patterns?
(a) That God always calls His chosen people to work productively.
(b) That "leaving and cleaving" that forms marriage is a reflection of God's character.
(c) That Priests are a model of what St. Paul inferred in Hebrews was the "Priesthood of Believers," and are therefore a legitimate source of guidance.
(d) That God uses angels to direct men to human communities to learn.

10. What does Augustine consider as God's typical means of delivering His illumination?
(a) Using the"still quiet moments" to deliver His illumination.
(b) Using humans to deliver His illumination.
(c) Using adversity to deliver His illumination.
(d) Using nature to deliver His illumination.

11. What is the problem for the critics that Augustine addresses in the Preface when they choose to teach?
(a) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be achieved through "special gifts", isn't God's power of communicating limited out side of his act to give the gifts?
(b) If these critics believe students of Scripture can only receive understanding through "special gifts", why do they attempt to teach about "special gifts"?
(c) If God only communicates the truth of Scripture through those who have "special gifts", is not God limiting his communication with the pagan who has not received such gifts?
(d) If these critics believe that understanding Scripture can only be achieved through the application of "special gifts", doesn't their effort to teach expose their students to personal bias that might interfere with their "special gifts"?

12. How does Augustine describe humans?
(a) Humans are things that can "enjoy," love and "use" things.
(b) Humans are above things because they use them.
(c) Humans are things that are subject to the laws of God.
(d) Humans are things that use language as a symbol.

13. What is the step that Augustine identifies an individual should take before entering into a proper relationship with God?
(a) An individual must leave their mother and father and cleave to the Church.
(b) An individual must repent of their sins and be baptized.
(c) An individual's eyes must be purged and God's plan and healing must be followed.
(d) An individual must sell all possessions and give the money to the Priest.

14. How does Augustine use the items of his example to illustrate his distinction?
(a) The meal is enjoyed, but the pot is used.
(b) That Lucifer sought to discredit Job's faith, but God realized the depth of Job's convictions.
(c) That Adam made the choice of sin, but Cain responded out of the impulse passed to him from Adam's choice.
(d) That critics who do not understand show a lack of interest to discover, but those who believe in special gifts use a false faith to rationalize their lack of interest.

15. What is the logical inconsistency of the critics that Augustine confronts in the Preface?
(a) If these critics believe learning only comes through the possession of "special gifts," why do they teach?
(b) If these critics believe they need no training, why are they reviewing Augustine's works?
(c) If learning only comes through community, why does Scripture encourage separation for prayer?
(d) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be learned through "special gifts," and God wants everyone to know scriptures, then why doesn't everyone have "special gifts"?

Short Answer Questions

1. What items or situations does Augustine use to illustrate his distinction of things?

2. Who does Augustine suggest has the ability to know the Truth?

3. What is Augustine's attitude toward those who have a "special gift" for interpretation from God?

4. To what does Augustine compare his distinction of things?

5. What should be the nature of the relationship between humans and God according to Augustine?

(see the answer keys)

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